By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Magnolia Elementary School Welcomes New Vice Principal
Moving And Shaking
mag vp
A new school marquee as well as administrators will greet the Magnolia Elementary School Bears when they return to school Wednesday, Aug. 10. Vice Principal Leah Nyberg (pictured) will join the Bear family along with Principal Janet Hamby. Teresa Hammond/The Leader

As Oakdale youth busy themselves searching for shoes, backpacks and supplies, Oakdale Joint Unified School District administrators and staff are equally busy on their respective campuses. Each of the four elementary schools, as well as Oakdale Junior High, will welcome new administrators to their sites to start the 2016-17 school year. Classes resume for all students on Wednesday, Aug. 10.

Craig Redman has left his teaching position at OJHS to serve as Vice Principal at Cloverland Elementary. Joining the junior high administrative team will be Talmage Allen, formerly of Escalon Unified School District. Former Cloverland Vice Principal Jeff Aprile will move to the Vice Principal post at Sierra View and Sierra View Vice Principal Jennifer Davis moves to the Vice Principal position at Fair Oaks.

It has also officially been one week since Leah Nyberg first sat behind the desk of her new office, taking over the Vice Principal post at Magnolia Elementary.

On Wednesday, Aug. 10 the newly appointed Magnolia VP will be busy both behind that desk, as well as on the campus as she and Principal Janet Hamby (formerly Vice Principal at Fair Oaks) welcome the Bears back to school.

Nyberg is one of two elementary school administrators recently hired by Oakdale Joint Unified School District.

“I am really looking forward to being a part of the community here and I can’t wait to get to know and work with our wonderful Magnolia and OJUSD community,” Nyberg said.

Prior to joining the OJUSD team, she spent 12 years with Stockton Joint Unified, three of which were in the capacity of Vice Principal.

“I’m extremely excited to join the OJUSD team this year,” she added. “I moved to Oakdale in May 2015. When I saw a position open up with OJUSD I was extremely excited that there was a position at a school district in my city.”

Nyberg shared her excitement with not only working locally, but now being able to embed herself in the community. She noted her past position, coupled with the commute, made it difficult to do much in the way of enjoying free time locally. She also stated her interest in living in Oakdale had much to do with its proximity to the mountains, as well as quality of life.

“I want to work in the community where I reside,” she said, “and want to make a positive difference in my community.”

Magnolia’s newest administrator is a graduate of Edison High School in Stockton. She completed her undergraduate work at University of the Pacific where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies with a CLAD (Cross Cultural Language Acquisition Development) Concentration.

“I am completely dedicated and passionate about my work,” Nyberg continued. “I have drive and commitment to OJUSD’s mission, vision, values and goals. I believe in the growth mindset and that talents and abilities can be developed through passion, education and persistence.”

Nyberg furthered her education in the way of her graduate studies at National University where she earned a Master of Science in Education Administration.

“I was inspired and encouraged by my grandparents,” she said of her quest to be in education. “My grandmother was a middle school teacher in Stockton and my grandfather was a professor at University of the Pacific.

“I often volunteered in the classroom and became a substitute teacher during my college years,” she continued. “It was the best experience and I knew that I wanted to work with kids and make a difference in their lives.”

During her downtime Nyberg enjoys an active lifestyle participating in 5k and 10k runs, as well as hiking and kayaking.

“I absolutely love my job,” she concluded, “and want to help prepare our students to be college and career ready. I really look forward to a productive and successful school year.”